| Archive for Epping Forest Epics Mountain Biking in Epping Forest |
| jlovejoy |
looking for rides!Hi Everyone,I'm in London for the next four months from Boulder, Colorado and was hoping to find people to ride with. I brought my cyclocross bike (didn't realize there was such a mountain biking scene here!) and would love to join in. I'm not sure what the pace of your rides are, but am hoping there's room for a seasoned mtn biker on a fully rigid bike! I'm living in Bethnal Green - looks like I can bring my bike on the tube from Leyton to Epping, but not sure how best to get from Bethan Green to Leyton without getting run over in traffic... any and all advice is welcome!! thanks, Jilayne |
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| The BIG GT |
Jilayne,
Welcome to the UK and welome to the forum! You should not need to worry about riding your cyclocross bike in Epping as, although it can be great fun and quite rooty, it's not so extreme that you really need any suspension. Front suspension helps, of course and full suss will keep you comfortable if you have a tender behind but I have ridden many times on my own or with mates and a couple of times with the Epic guys on my old rigid MTB and it was fine apart from my wrists aching a bit! It's a good, social pace but we don't leave anyone behind and we have a good 'tea & cake' stop at High Beach before returning. Rides vary in length depending on how boggy the Forest is but we usually ride for about 20-25 miles. I'm afraid that I can't help you with travel info from that side of London, I'm out West. Because of this I've been slacking in my attendance over the last few months  
Keep an eye on the Rides section though and come along one weekend, Gary |
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| jlovejoy |
Thanks Gary - that is very helpful. I'll see if I can gather some info from the local bike shops on the best way to get out there and hopefully join you all soon!
Jilayne |
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| GTDave |
Jilayne, check out the 'cycling' link on the 'Transport for London' website, more specifically the 'journey planner' below:
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/...yclingActive=on&cycleType=107 Enter your start point in Bethnal Green, and Leyton as the destination, and it will show you the best cycle route to take. I suspect it will involve a leisurly cycle that takes you along the union canal, and should take about 20-25 minutes max. Dave www.eppinghardcru.co.uk |
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| jlovejoy |
oh, for the love of the London Transport website and Google map/satellite pictures, I have the whole 6km from Bethnal Green to Leyton Station figured out (it will probably take me less time to ride it than it did to check out the route via Google mapping!)
So, are you riding this Saturday? And once I get off the tube at Epping, how do I get to the Bike Shed? - jilayne |
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| lefty |
Dont go all the way to Epping. We actually start at South Woodford
Here http://www.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&...&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1 Just south east of the station where Pulteney Rd meets George Ln is where we all meet 
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| jlovejoy |
thanks - even better, that's close enough to just ride there and not bother with the tube.
now, if I can just remember to ride on the correct side of the road, I'll be all set! ha ha ha |
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| Robo |
Where abouts in Leyton are you? As the Bike Shed is only a short bike ride away from Leyton. You will be absolutely fine on your CycloCross bike in Epping Forest. I used to ride/race with a few guys and girls from Cyclone Cycles who used to ride there CycloCross bikes and Single Speeds and Rigids all the time in Epping Forest. Rob. |
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| jlovejoy |
I'm in Bethnal Green, actually - I thought I would need to catch the tube and Leyton is the first stop you can bring you bike on it. But, after checking the maps, I can see that everything is much closer than I realized! | ||
| Robo |
Hiya, You could if you wanted to, jump on the train at Bethnal Green, and take 6 stops on the Central Line (coloured RED) and get off at South Woodford. This is George Lane, South Woodford, and this is where the guys meet for the ride. make sure that the train is going Via South Woodford first, as it is a circular route. You'll see what I mean when you click on the link I've given you. Here is the link. you will have to magnify the page using the icons, and look for the RED route Central Line. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/colourmap.pdf Alternatively, it'll be about an half hour ride to the meeting point, but the down side is, it'll be all up hill, not steep, but gentle up hill 95% of the way. Hope this helps. Rob. |
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| jlovejoy |
yeah, the tube is pretty direct, but it looks like you can't bring your bike on the tube at the Bethnal Green station - so I'll have to ride part of the way in any case
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/tube-map-bicycles1b.pdf That's all right, it will be a good warmup. But the real question is - will you all be riding on this Saturday? (how do you deal with the weather, or is it simply - ride: rain or shine!? j |
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| Robo |
If you do CycloCross, and a fair bit of MTB, then I was suprised you was going to get on the train. You're looking at no more than half an hour ride on the road from Bethnal Green to George Lane. I won't be riding on Saturday as I have to work on Saturday morning. Have a good ride, let us know how you get on in our fantastic Summer riding      
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| jlovejoy |
well, I tried to make the ride today, but got completely lost on the way there. (the tfl suggested cycling route was crap - had a million turns in it, instead of a less complicated, more direct route!)
I did figure out a more direct route, so I *should* be able to make it tomorrow. Let's hope so anyway. - jilayne |
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| Robo |
Don't even go there with TFL. Try this if you want to get anywhere. http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp or this http://www.rac.co.uk/web/routeplanner/ or pop into your local bookshop and get a pocket size A to Z of London. It will cover every road within the M25, and alot of roads outside it too. |
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| jlovejoy |
cool - I'll check out those links.
I did try to make it Sunday, but was still a bit late (you all must leave at 10am prompt?) No matter, I found some trails off Snaresbrook Road to both sides. It was nice to finally get on some dirt and the trails were in great shape. I hope to get out this Sunday (probably afternoon) and Monday (anytime) if that works with anyone else's schedule, let me know! jilayne |
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| Robo |
Hiya,
I can't do Sunday, as I'm plastering my daughters bathroom, but I can do anytime Monday if you fancy hooking up from somewhere. Maybe I could meet you at Lakeside Dinner, and we could ride up to High Beech and back, single track most of the way. Let me know if you fancy it, a loop like that would be about 20 to 25 miles, or we can make it shorter if you wanted to. The Lakside Dinner is in Whipps Cross Road, Leyton, and is directly opposite James Lane. Rob. |
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| jlovejoy |
That sounds fabulous! Monday it is. Name a time.
I see where Whipps Cross Road and James Lane intersect - is that the spot? Jilayne |
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| Robo |
Yeah, thats it. Directly opposite James Lane is a little Brick built tea hut with some benches outside, I'll meet you there. Is 11am good for you? Don't forget to bring a spare tube or two for your bike. I'll PM (private message) you my phone number, as after 10am this morning, I won't have accesss to the computer to check back in here. So either text me or give me a quick call if you can't make 11am Monday. If I don't here from you, then I'll see you at the tea hut. I'll be on a Red Specialized S-Works FSR, and my name is Rob. check PM. |
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